Environmental Impact of Nuclear Power - Waste Streams

Waste Streams

Nuclear power has at least four waste streams that may harm the environment:

1. they create spent nuclear fuel at the reactor site (including plutonium waste)
2. they produce tailings at uranium mines and mills
3. during operation they can release small amounts of radioactive isotopes
4. during accidents they can release large quantities of dangerous radioactive materials

The nuclear fuel cycle involves some of the most dangerous elements and isotopes known to humankind, including more than 100 dangerous radionuclides and carcinogens such as strontium-90, iodine 131 and cesium -137, which are the same toxins found in the fall out of nuclear weapons".